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The Grateful Dead

No question, this show is right there among the best from this magical, mythical May of '77. Still remember first hearing the closing sequence (Jam->Wharf Rat->Terrapin->Morning Dew) on Gans' GD Hour back in the day.

Official release cuts these from set one (El Paso, Peggy-O, Minglewood, FOTD, Ramble On), set two (B. E. Women, Good Lovin), and the encore (Sugar Mag).

I'll not comment on the performance here, because this show is widely accepted as one of the best performances of the legendary May 1977 tour -- if not *the* best, as I believe and as many others do as well.

Sound quality aside -- not bad for a cassette copy -- this is in some ways an upgrade to the commercial release. It's not just the obvious -- the 8 songs left off of Dick's Picks 3 are included --but also the less than obvious -- Eyes and Dancin' in the Streets, which were edited for DP3, are presented here in their complete versions.

Challenging trying to compare shows
from the 1977 time period.
Especially since Barton Hall
gets so much love and attention.
For me it is enough to compare 5/21 to 5/22.
I find I lean towards :
1st set of 5/21
over 5/22
but then I am partial to:
5/22 Second Set over 5/21 Second Set.
H>S>F with an emphasis on Franklin's
They play Samson, Be. Women both nights with 5/22 you get a stand alone Good Lovin
My reasons for at least the 5/22 Second Set are the Sunrise, Estimated > Eyes that is just enough to lean me towards 5/22 Second Set.
and then also how often do we get
Eyes Of The World-> Wharf Rat-> Terrapin Station-> Morning Dew, (4 to close from Jerry!)
oh yeah the transition out of Eyes is deeply moving. Almost could roll anywhere from a Dark Star to Stella but comes down on a Wharf Rat. (but really those transitions always endeared me to this band.
(Garcia said in the later years the most creative time musically was often coming out of space which is what the end of this Wharf Rat reminds me of)
The drummers really kick butt during Wharf Rat for a ballad the tension between Garcia and the Rhythm Section with August West goes in many possible directions! What a great yet subtle drop into Terrapin. This is a bare bones version sans Lady with a fan.--starting with "Inspiration move me brightly"
I am surprised they never did just the Terrapin Station lyrics in the later years.( It might have cut down on a bunch of Jerry's having to remember both Lady with a Fan>plus Terrapin.lyrics which IMHO often slowed his guitar work.
Wow, into >Morning Dew. This is Jerry center stage vocally and of course jamming.
I guess it doesn't matter anyway!!!
E) Sugar Magnolia-Well Bobby had to get him some as well.
For the record -- i would still say that my favorite 1977 remains Englishtown 77.